Ratledge 3 year starter at UGA
Frazier 3 year starter at LSU
That is six combined years of starting at OG in the SEC.
Combined those two had like six sacks allowed in six years. Ratledge had one sack allowed last year. Frazier had zero. Ratledge has PFF’s fourth best pass block rating at OG from 2022-2024.
I know we were looking for OGs, and good OGs that want to play in the NFL should be good at pass pro.
But do you think they had an emphasis on protecting Goff this year? Sheesh. Every QB is better when they are protected well. But Goff even moreso.
Also just heard this about Frazier: in 188 true dropback passes last year aka no play action, rpo, screen pass (most in this class for a iOL), zero QB hits, zero sacks given up and only five total pressures.
Posted elsewhere but worth here as well, from the Freep;
In 2020-21, Frazier started 11 games at left tackle for Florida International. He transferred to LSU as one of the top players in the portal in 2022, made starts at left guard, right guard and right tackle that season and served as the team’s full-time right guard the past two years.
Frazier, who allowed just four sacks in 39 career starts at LSU, according to the Lafayette Daily Advertiser, said he also served as the backup swing tackle last season and called joining the Lions “an unbelievable opportunity.”
“I just think the versatility speaks for itself when you watch my tape,” Frazier said. "If anything happens at any moment, I’m able to jump to the left side, left guard, right guard, right tackle, left tackle. The only position I haven’t played was center, but I’m open to that, too. …
Goff needs a top o line more than any other QB in the league. He is so limited athletically that if he doesn’t have a top 10 oline he will fail. It is good that Holmes understands this and makes the proper investment. Lions have a top o line coach and the line should be one of if not the best in the league again.
At first, I thought it was a little strange that they went from a need to a logjam in one draft. Obviously GG can play some center. But then you also have Kayode Awosika too who played okay. Seems like Ratledge is a RG only. Frazier give us some flexibility at both positions, but he sounds like a LG to me with the pass blocking. Mahogany looks like he can play either spot. This makes much more sense to me if they are just looking at this like, “yeah, we roll with GG one more year and then he retires and one of those guys takes his spot.” Except…one of them needs to play center? That is where Awosika figures in, I would guess…
I think it makes a lot of sense. GG is gone after this year IMO. Even with Ragnow our interior becomes cheap enough to absorb Sewell’s salary climb and leave that position group in decent shape cost wise. The big 3 have 65m in cap hits for 2026. So two cheap guards is pretty essential if we’re going to do things like keep two expensive safeties. If that means having some built in redundancy with the young pups that seems wise.
I’d expect a similar strategy to emerge at DL once Aiden’s big deal begins to ramp.
Frazier no. Frazier has experience at LT, LG, RG, and RT.
So, great versatility for both! Ratledge can learn behind Glasgow and Ragnow while Frazier can learn from Glasgow, Decker, and Sewell. All of them under Fraley for at least a season here… hopefully many more.
Really excited about the state of the OL after the draft.
Additionally everyone around that program just loads praise on him as a communicator and a leader with high football intelligence. I could definitely see that being the Rags succession plan.
Well if Manu hits enough to get extended his contract will likely being ramping in 2029. But at that point Goff is on a new contract or we’ve moved on so it’s hard to project. But '26-'28 Geoff’s cap number averages like $62m. I would assume that will be restructured. But regardless we’re going to have to find savings somewhere.
The other thought I had with those two is do they have tackle potential? Can they beat out skipper as swing tackle/guard? If ratledge and mahogany win the starting jobs can Frazier play right tackle if needed?
Yeah, I thought of that too. Skipper could be the odd man out? I would think Manu could start manning that swing tackle role too by year 2. At least I hope.